Electronic device, communication environment setting method, and program

ABSTRACT

An electronic device having a communication function comprises a section for setting predetermined information using a predetermined communication profile from a plurality of communication profiles created based on setting information required for a communication used in a network, and performing communication connection according to the network setting, and a section for determining whether or not communication connection by the means for performing communication connection has been successfully established, and selecting a communication profile optimal for a current network environment from the plurality of communication profiles when the connection has not been successfully established, wherein the means for performing communication connection establishes communication connection using the selected communication profile.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priorityfrom the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-256915, filed onSep. 2, 2002, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an electronic device having acommunication function.

[0004] The present invention further relates to a communicationenvironment setting method and a program preferable to be used in aportable computer, especially in a mobile terminal device.

[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0006] In recent years, various communication functions through awireless or wired network connection are mounted on a portable computer,especially on an electronic device such as a mobile terminal. Thesevarious communication functions are incorporated in an electronic deviceor provided as external devices to be statically or dynamically managedby a control function such as an OS (operating system) operating on theelectronic device. As a device technique adaptable to a plurality ofcommunication functions, conventionally there is present a technique foradapting the communication functions to various network environments byselectively using plural types of communication devices by, for example,a plug-and-play function (refer to Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI PublicationNo. 2002-158732).

[0007] It is possible to realize a system configuration adaptable tovarious communication functions by applying this technique. However, theabove prior art only changes the communication device depending on astatus where the communication device is used, and does not provide afunction for changing various settings on a communication such as adevice relating to the communication, an application, and the like.Particularly, functions and configuration of an electronic device havingcommunication functions are remarkably complicated in recent years.Therefore, changeover of various settings required for the communicationalong with a change in a network environment forces a user complicatedoperations so that a large amount of time and labor have been requiredfor the setting task.

[0008] As described above, conventionally, a large amount of time andlabor have been required for changeover of various settings required fora communication along with a change in a network environment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] One aspect of the present invention provides an electronicdevice, a communication environment setting method, and a program whichcan remarkably reduce operations and working load of user on varioussettings required for a communication along with a change in a networkenvironment and which can realize a communication environment settingchangeover function adaptable to various network environments with easyand simple operation.

[0010] The aspect of the present invention is characterized in that,when a computer device adaptable to various communication functions isrealized, various setting information required for a communication alongwith a change in a network environment such as status and setting of acommunication device, partial setting of a communication functionprovided on the communication device, setting accompanying a devicehaving a wireless communication function, and setting of a softwarerelating to the communication are stored and managed as communicationprofiles, respectively, and a communication profile diagnosis andautomatic changeover functions are provided so that automatic changeoverof an environment setting along with a change in a network environment,automatic changeover using communication means, activation control of acommunication software, and the like are realized.

[0011] An electronic device having a communication function according toa first aspect of the present invention is characterized by comprising:means for setting predetermined information using a predeterminedcommunication profile from a plurality of communication profiles createdbased on setting information required for a communication used in anetwork, and performing communication connection according to thenetwork setting; and means for determining whether or not communicationconnection by the means for performing communication connection has beensuccessfully established, and selecting a communication profile optimalfor a current network environment from the plurality of communicationprofiles when the connection has not been successfully established,wherein the means for performing communication connection establishescommunication connection using the selected communication profile.

[0012] In the first aspect, there is characterized by furthercomprising: means for detecting a change in a network environment; meansfor, when the means for detecting the change in the network environmentdetects a change in a network environment, acquiring setting informationrequired for a communication used in the detected network environmentand creating a communication profile based on the information; and meansfor managing communication profiles created by the means for creatingthe communication profile, wherein the means for performingcommunication connection performs network setting using a communicationprofile managed by the means for managing communication profiles andestablishes communication connection according to the setting, and meansfor diagnosing a communication profile determines whether or notcommunication connection by the means for performing communicationconnection has been successfully established, and selects acommunication profile optimal for a current network environment detectedby the means for detecting the change in the network environment fromthe communication profiles managed by the means for managingcommunication profiles when the connection has not been successfullyestablished.

[0013] A communication environment setting method for an electronicdevice according to a second aspect of the present invention ischaracterized by comprising: setting predetermined information using apredetermined communication profile from a plurality of communicationprofiles created based on setting information required for acommunication used in a network, and performing communication connectionaccording to the network setting; and determining whether or notcommunication connection by the performing communication connection hasbeen successfully established, selecting a communication profile optimalfor a current network environment from the plurality of communicationprofiles when the connection has not been successfully established, andchanging over a communication profile used in the communicationconnection to the selected communication profile.

[0014] A communication environment setting method according to a thirdaspect of the present invention is characterized by comprising:detecting a change in a network environment to be used; acquiringsetting information required for a communication used in the detectednetwork environment and creating a communication profile based on theinformation, when a change in a network environment is detected; andmanaging the communication profile, wherein the detecting the change inthe network environment performs network setting using the communicationprofile and establishes communication connection according to thesetting, and the acquiring setting information determines whether or notcommunication connection has been successfully established, and selectsa communication profile optimal for a detected current networkenvironment from the communication profile when the connection has notbeen successfully established.

[0015] A computer-readable program causing a computer to execute networksetting for performing communication according to a fourth aspect of thepresent invention is characterized by comprising: program code forsetting predetermined information using a predetermined communicationprofile from a plurality of communication profiles created based onsetting information required for a communication used in a network, andperforming communication connection according to the network setting;and program code for determining whether or not communication connectionby the performing communication connection has been successfullyestablished, selecting a communication profile optimal for a currentnetwork environment from the plurality of communication profiles as acommunication profile used in the network setting when the connectionhas not been successfully established.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in andconstitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferredembodiment of the invention, and together with the general descriptiongiven above and the detailed description of the preferred embodimentgiven below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0017]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of main parts ofan electronic device having a wireless function according to anembodiment of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of main parts ofan electronic device having a wireless function according to anembodiment of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a procedure of changing over acommunication profile reflected on communication means, which isperformed by a diagnosis module, according to the embodiment;

[0020]FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a procedure of automaticallycreating a communication profile, which is performed by a monitor moduleand a profile creation module, according to the embodiment;

[0021]FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a procedure of automaticallychanging over a communication profile on a wireless network (SS/D),which is performed by the diagnosis module, according to the embodiment;

[0022]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing one configuration example of a GUIscreen according to the embodiment;

[0023]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing one configuration example of the GUIscreen according to the embodiment; and

[0024]FIG. 8 is a diagram showing one configuration example of the GUIscreen according to the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present inventionwill be described with reference to the drawings.

[0026] The system configuration of above-mentioned personal computer 30will be explained referring to FIG. 1.

[0027] As show in FIG. 1, the personal computer 30 has a CPU 101, a hostbridge 102, a main memory 103, a display controller 104, a systemcontroller 105, a hard disk drive (HDD) 106, a cable LAN device 107, awireless LAN device 108, a BIOS-ROM110, and embedded controller/keyboardcontroller IC (EC/KBC) 111, etc.

[0028] The CPU101 is a processor provided to control the operation ofthe computer, and executes the operating system (OS) and variousapplications/utility programs loaded from hard disk drive (HDD) 106 tothe main memory 103. The CPU101 also executes the BIOS (Basic InputOutput System) stored in the BIOS-ROM 110. In addition, the CPU101executes various modules etc., stored in the main memory 103, shown inFIG. 2 described later in detail.

[0029] The host bridge 102 is a bridge device which connects between thelocal bus of the CPU 101 and the system controller 105. The memorycontroller which controls the access of the main memory 103 is builtinto the host bridge 102. The display controller 104 controls a display(DISP) 32 which is used as a display monitor of the computer and forinstance uses an LCD.

[0030] The system controller 105 controls each device on the PCI bus andeach device on the ISA bus. The controller IDE for controlling the harddisk drive 106 is built into the system controller 105.

[0031] The cable LAN device 107 is a cable network device to connect itwith the cable network. The cable LAN device 107 communicates with thecable network through the cable LAN cable connected with the LANconnector 106.

[0032] The wireless LAN device 108 is a wireless network device toconnect it with the wireless network, and is configured with the baseband unit and the RF unit. The RF unit transmits and receives the radiosignal through the antenna (ANT) 109. The wireless LAN device 108 isconfigured to execute the wireless communication for instance accordingto the IEEE802.11a/IEEE802.11b standard.

[0033] The embedded controller/keyboard controller IC (EC/KBC) 111 is aone chip microcomputer in which the embedded controller for the electricpower control and the keyboard controller to control to control thekeyboard 13 are integrated. The embedded controller/keyboard controllerIC (EC/KBC) 111 has a function of turning on/off the power of thecomputer according to the operation of the power button by the user.

[0034] In FIG. 1, the OS is shown twice in the main memory 103. Thesoftware modules 201 to 210 are usually stored in the HDD 106, and aredeveloped on the main memory 103 when the software is executed.Therefore, the profile and the registry, which are updated and/orchanged, are stored in the HDD 106.

[0035]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of main parts ofan electronic device having a wireless function according to theembodiment of the present invention. The electronic device according tothe present embodiment comprises a monitor module 201, a profilecreation module 202, a diagnosis module 203, a changeover module 204, aprofile manager 205, a communication profile storage registry 206, andthe like. A network environment setting function using a communicationprofile is realized by these constituent elements. Note that an OS(operating system) 207 operating on a computer, a device driver 208, asystem registry 209 on the computer, a communication software 210, andthe like which are shown in FIG. 2 are constituent elements provided inan ordinary computer device, respectively, which realize communicationfunctions over various networks by network settings using communicationprofiles, here. The communication functions which are realized by the OS207, the device driver 208, the system registry 209, the communicationsoftware 210, and the like are simply referred as “communication means”.

[0036] The monitor module 201 realizes a network monitor function. Themonitor module 201 comprises the profile creation module 202, anddetects a change in the network environment of a currently used orusable network. The monitor module 201 detects a change in the networkenvironment for a wired or wireless network. Specifically, the monitormodule 201 notifies diagnosis module 203 of a status of the change inthe network environment each time when a LAN cable is disconnected, whenthe LAN cable is connected, when a wireless network (SSID) isdisconnected, when the wireless network (SSID) is detected, and furtherwhen a status change, a modification, and the like in a communicationsystem and a communication device are detected. The SSID (service setidentification) according to the present embodiment is identificationinformation of the respective access points, for example, in thewireless LAN, and disconnection of the wireless network (SSID) indicatesa status where the SSID of the access point where a wirelesscommunication has been made cannot be detected (status where a wirelesscommunication is disconnected due to movement of a device or the like).

[0037] Further, when a change in the network environment is detected,the monitor module 201 activates the profile creation module 202 inorder to create a communication profile in the network environment.

[0038] When the monitor module 201 detects a change in the networkenvironment, the profile creation module 202 acquires settinginformation required for the communication used in the detected networkenvironment from the communication means, creates a communicationprofile based on the information, and sends the created communicationprofile to the profile manager 205. Specific examples of the settinginformation required for the communication at this time include a proxyserver and a start homepage which relate to the Internet setting, aDHCP, an IP address, a subnet mask, a default gateway, a DNS server, anda WINS server which relate to the TCP/IP setting, and the like.

[0039] The diagnosis module 203 realizes a communication profilediagnosis function. The diagnosis module 203 comprises the changeovermodule 204 for changing a communication module which is applied to thecommunication means. When the above notification is received from themonitor module 201, or a notification indicating that a normalcommunication cannot be secured is received from the communicationmeans, the diagnosis module 203 compares the current network environmentsetting detected by the monitor module 201 and the network environmentsetting according to the communication profile which is applied to thecommunication means, and selects a communication profile optimal for thecurrent network environment detected by the monitor module 201 from thedifference therebetween. This communication profile selection functionis performed on a GUI screen described later only when a setting forautomatically changing a communication profile is made. When the settingfor automatically changing a communication profile is not made, acommunication profile can be changed by the communication profileselection (manual selection) on the GUI screen.

[0040] Further, the diagnosis module 203 has a communication devicechangeover control function of enabling the wireless device provided inthe communication means when the monitor module 201 detects a statuswhere the wired LAN cable is disconnected and disabling the wirelessdevice when the monitor module 201 detects a status where the wired LANcable is connected. The communication device changeover control at thistime is performed by the changeover module 204 according to aninstruction from the diagnosis module 203.

[0041] The changeover module 204 changes the communication profile,which is applied to the communication means, to a communication profileselected by the diagnosis module 203 or a communication profile selectedby a user under control of the diagnosis module 203.

[0042] The communication profile changeover control described above isperformed each time when the diagnosis module 203 receives the abovenotification from the monitor module 201, or receives a notificationindicating that a normal communication cannot be secured from thecommunication means, or according to user's judgment.

[0043] The profile manager 205 comprises the registry 206 for storingcommunication profiles therein, and stores and manages a communicationprofile created by the profile creation module 202, a communicationprofile created or edited by the user, a communication profile acquiredthrough the network, and the like in the registry 206. A function ofexporting/importing a communication profile through the network isrealized by an application program included in the communicationsoftware 210.

[0044] Further, with respect to each communication profile describedabove, the profile manager 205 has various GUI (graphic user interface)functions relating to creation, edition, and management of thecommunication profiles including a GUI function of displaying a list ofoptimal communication profiles according to an instruction of thediagnosis module 203 from the communication profiles stored in theregistry 206, a GUI function of setting whether selection of acommunication profile used by the communication means is performedmanually or automatically, a GUI function of enabling edition such asdeletion, change, addition, or the like of a communication profile to bemanaged, a GUI function of adding a name or unique icon designated bythe user to a communication profile to be managed, and the like (referto FIGS. 5 to 7).

[0045]FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a procedure of changing over acommunication profile reflected on the communication means, which isperformed by the above diagnosis module 203.

[0046]FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a procedure of acquiring(automatically creating) a communication profile, which is performed bythe monitor module 201 and the profile creation module 202, and aprocessing in each step will be described later.

[0047]FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a procedure of automaticallychanging over a communication profile over a wireless network (SSID),which is performed by the above diagnosis module 203, and a processingin each step will be described later.

[0048]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing one configuration example of the GUIscreen for performing function selection of a network environmentsetting function using a communication profile, and settings such asacquisition, addition, deletion, edition, diagnosis, and the like of thecommunication profile, where a network environment setting icon 100provided in a task bar is selected and right-clicked by a mouse to bedisplayed as a pull-up menu 61. When a check box of “automaticchangeover (cable disconnected)” is denoted with a check mark on thisscreen, the wireless device is automatically enabled when the wired LANcable is disconnected (separated). Further, when the wired LAN cable isconnected, the wireless device is disabled. When a check box of“automatic changeover (SSDI)” is denoted with a check mark on the abovescreen, the GUI screen (automatic changeover (SSDI) dialog) shown inFIG. 7 and described later is displayed, and the automatic changeoverfunction of automatically changing a communication profile with respectto a change in the SSID of the wireless LAN along with movement of thedevice or the like can be set as enable on this screen. In addition, anyone of “profile addition”, “profile deletion”, “profile edition”, and“profile diagnosis” is selected so that a dialog of the selected work isdisplayed.

[0049]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing one configuration example of the GUIscreen when enable/disable setting of a communication profile (wirelesscommunication profile) automatic changeover is performed along with achange in the wireless network (SSID), which is displayed by denoting acheck mark on the check box of “automatic changeover (SSID)” on the GUIscreen shown in FIG. 6. Here, when a check box 52 provided in anautomatic changeover (SSID) dialog 51 is denoted with a check mark, acommunication profile automatic changeover with respect to the change inthe SSID of the wireless LAN can be set as enable. An arbitrary numberof communication profiles which are targets for automatic changeover areselected from “list of profiles catching wireless network (SSID)”, andare transferred to “list of profiles for automatically performingautomatic changeover on detection of SSID” by operating an “addition”button so that automatic changeover (SSID) is enabled (a check mark isdenoted on the check box 52). As a result, the communication profileautomatic changeover is enabled for the change in the SSID of thewireless LAN for the communication profiles placed in “list of profilesfor automatically performing automatic changeover on detection of SSID”.

[0050]FIG. 8 is a diagram showing one configuration example of the GUIscreen when selection (manual selection) of a communication profilewhich is applied to the communication means, enable/disable setting ofthe diagnosis function in the diagnosis module 203 after thecommunication profile changeover are performed.

[0051] Here, an operation according to the embodiment of the presentinvention will be described with reference to the above respectivedrawings.

[0052] (1) Acquisition of Communication Profile

[0053] Acquisition and storage of a communication profile can beperformed using the GUI screen shown in FIG. 6. The GUI screen shown inFIG. 6 is displayed by selecting and right-clicking the networkenvironment setting icon 100 placed in the task bar by the mouse. Inthis example, when a check mark is denoted on the check box of “profileautomatic acquisition” on the pull-up menu 61, a communication profileis automatically acquired.

[0054]FIG. 4 shows a procedure of acquiring (automatically creating) acommunication profile, which is performed by the monitor module 201 andthe profile creation module 202 at this time.

[0055] When a change in the network environment is detected, the monitormodule 201 activates the profile creation module 202 (YES in step S201in FIG. 4).

[0056] When the monitor module 201 detects a change in the networkenvironment, the profile creation module 202 acquires settinginformation required for the communication used in the detected networkenvironment from the communication means and examines whether or not acommunication profile having the information is present in the registry206 (step S202 in FIG. 4). Here, the communication profile creationprocessing is terminated when a communication profile having the aboveacquired information is present in the registry 206 (NO in step S202 inFIG. 4), and a communication profile is created based on the aboveacquired information and the fact is notified to the profile manager 205(step S203 in FIG. 4) when a communication profile having the aboveacquired information is not present in the registry 206 (YES in stepS202 in FIG. 4). The profile manager 205 stores the communicationprofile created by the above profile creation module 202 in the registry206 in response to a reception of the above notification (step S203 inFIG. 4).

[0057] In this manner, each time when a change in the networkenvironment occurs, the communication profile in the network environmentis acquired. With respect to the wireless LAN, for example, acommunication profile according to the SSID setting is created andstored in the registry 206. Further, with respect to an Internetbrowser, communication profiles according to enable/disable of therespective statuses of proxy server setting information and thecommunication device currently connected to the communication means,TCP/IP setting information provided on the communication device, and thelike are created, and each created communication profile is stored inthe registry 206.

[0058] Further, when an item of “profile addition” is selected on thepull-up menu 61 shown in FIG. 6, a communication profile according tothe current network environment setting detected by the monitor module201 is created by the profile creation module 202. The communicationprofile is stored in the registry 206 by the profile manager 205.

[0059] In this manner, the communication profile in the current networkenvironment can be acquired.

[0060] (2) Manual Changeover of Communication Profile

[0061] Manual changeover of a communication profile can be performedusing the GUI screen shown in FIG. 8. This GUI screen shown in FIG. 8 isdisplayed by selecting and left-clicking the network environment settingicon 100 placed in the task bar by the mouse in this example. A list ofcommunication profiles stored in the registry 206 is displayed on thisGUI screen. At this time, the communication profile whose check box isdenoted with a check mark is the communication profile currentlyreflected on the communication means.

[0062] When the user selects a communication profile on thecommunication profile list display screen shown in FIG. 8, thecommunication profile changeover processing shown in FIG. 3 is performedunder control of the diagnosis module 203 and changeover of thecommunication profile reflected on the communication means is performed.

[0063] According to this processing, when the user selects acommunication profile from the communication profile list shown in FIG.8 (step S101 in FIG. 3), the changeover module 204 changes thecommunication profile reflected on the communication means to the aboveselected communication profile under control of the diagnosis module 203(step S102 in FIG. 3). The communication means tries to establishcommunication according to the network setting of this changedcommunication profile.

[0064] At this time, when a notification indicating that thecommunication is not normally established is received from thecommunication means (NO in step S103 in FIG. 3), the diagnosis module203 refers to the communication profiles stored in the registry 206,compares the current network environment setting detected by the monitormodule 201 and the network environment setting according to thecommunication profile which is applied to the communication means, andselects a communication profile optimal for the current networkenvironment detected by the monitor module 201 from the differencetherebetween (step S104 in FIG. 3). This selected communication profileis reflected on the communication profile list display screen shown inFIG. 8 (step S105 in FIG. 3). For example, the selected optimalcommunication profile is clearly shown by specific coloring, blinking,brightness changing, or the like on the communication profile listscreen.

[0065] When the user selects the specifically-displayed communicationprofile from the communication profile list (step S101 in FIG. 3), thechangeover module 204 changes the communication profile reflected on thecommunication means to the above selected communication profile undercontrol of the diagnosis module 203 (step S102 in FIG. 3).

[0066] Here, when a notification indicating that the communication hasbeen normally established is received from the communication means, thediagnosis module 203 recognizes that the communication profilechangeover has been successfully performed, and terminates thecommunication profile diagnosis processing along with the communicationprofile changeover at this time (YES in step S103 in FIG. 3). Further,when a notification indicating that the communication has not beennormally established is received from the communication means (NO instep S103 in FIG. 3), the diagnosis module 203 performs the abovecommunication profile selection processing again, and repeatedlyperforms the processing for selecting an optimal communication profileinstead of the previously-selected communication profile.

[0067] In this manner, the changeover of the communication profileapplied to the communication means is performed.

[0068] Since the communication profile changeover function along with achange in the network is employed as described above, the following canbe performed: for example, when the user uses a notebook type personalcomputer at his/her home and establishes network settings (TCP/IP,Internet explorer, network device, and the like), he/she captures aprofile name as “home”, and then similarly captures the network settingsat office to assume the profile name at that time as “office”, so that,when the user brings back the notebook type personal computer to his/herhome and establishes the network settings, the setting is changed to thepreviously-captured network setting for home by selecting “home” on theGUI screen shown in FIG. 8, and is changed to the network setting foroffice by selecting “office” at user's office.

[0069] (3) Automatic Changeover of Communication Profile

[0070] The communication profile automatic changeover automaticallyperforms changeover of a communication profile applied to thecommunication means by the diagnosis module 203 and the changeovermodule 204 when the monitor module 201 detects a change in the networkenvironment such as a status change in the communication device, apartial setting change in the communication functions provided on thedevice, a change in the system relating to the communication (forexample, a change in the connected SSID in the wireless LAN device,docking of a docker, cable connection/disconnection of the wired LANdevice), or the like. In addition, the operation description of thisembodiment is made by exemplifying the communication profile automaticchangeover processing along with a change only in the SSID for thewireless LAN.

[0071] Here, the communication profile automatic changeover processingalong with the change in the wireless network (SSID) will be described.

[0072] The communication profile automatic changeover processing alongwith the change in the wireless network (SSID) can be performed usingthe GUI screen shown in FIG. 7. The GUI screen shown in FIG. 7 isdisplayed by denoting a check mark on the check box of “automaticchangeover (SSID)” on the GUI screen shown in FIG. 6 as described above.

[0073] On this GUI screen shown in FIG. 7, an arbitrary number ofcommunication profiles which are targets for automatic changeover areselected from “list of profiles catching wireless network (SSID)”, theseselected communication profiles are transferred to “list of profiles forautomatically performing changeover on detection of SSID” by operatingthe “addition” button, and sets the automatic changeover (SSID) asenable (a check mark is denoted on the check box 52). According to thissetting, the processing shown in FIG. 5 is performed under control ofthe diagnosis module 203 in the succeeding wireless communication(wireless LAN communication) using the wireless network (SSID), and thecommunication profile automatic changeover for the change in the SSID ofthe wireless LAN is performed for the communication profiles set in“list of profiles for automatically performing changeover on detectionof SSID” on the above GUI screen shown in FIG. 7. According to thisembodiment, a database for storing a profile name for designating thecommunication profile and SSID in an associated manner is provided ineach communication profile of the wireless network (SSID) stored in theregistry 206, and this database is referred to at the time of thecommunication profile changeover processing along with a change in theSSID.

[0074] The monitor module 201 monitors the SSID of the wireless LAN(step S301 in FIG. 5), detects a change in the SSID (YES in step S302 inFIG. 5), and notifies the diagnosis module 203 of the status.

[0075] When the above notification is received from the monitor module201, the diagnosis module 203 refers to the above database to retrievethe profile name associated to the SSID detected by the above monitormodule 201 and to select a communication profile corresponding to thisretrieved profile name from the registry 206, and activates the registry206 (step S303 in FIG. 5). The changeover module 204 changes thecommunication profile applied to the communication means to the aboveselected communication profile under control of the diagnosis module 203(step S304 in FIG. 5).

[0076] Since the communication profile automatic changeover functionalong with the change in the wireless network (SSID) is employed in thismanner, the following can be performed: for example, since changeover ofthe SSID is automatically performed each time when the using place ischanged (namely, each time when an access point is changed) in the casewhere a notebook type personal computer is used both at home and atoffice, the user can utilizes the wireless network (SSID) without beingspecifically conscious of the communication environment settingchangeover along with the change in the access point.

[0077] Since the network environment setting function using thecommunication profile according to the present invention is employed, itis possible to realize a system capable of remarkably reducingoperations and working load of user on various settings required for acommunication along with a change in a network environment and of beingadapted to various network environments with easy and simple operation.For example, in the case where one notebook type personal computer isconnected to different networks at a plurality of places where thenetwork environments are different (for example, connected to thewireless networks) to be used, when various setting information requiredfor the communication at each using place is previously registered asthe communication profile, it is possible to set the network environmentusing the communication profile adapted to the network environment atthe using place depending on a using place at different time withoutcomplicated setting operations by the user.

[0078] As described above in detail, according to the embodiment of thepresent invention, it is possible to remarkably reduce operations andworking load of user on various settings required for a communicationalong with a change in a network environment and to be adapted tovarious network environments with easy and simple operation.

[0079] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, the present invention in itsbroader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representativedevices, and illustrated examples shown and described herein.Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by theappended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device having a communicationfunction comprising: means for setting predetermined information using apredetermined communication profile from a plurality of communicationprofiles created based on setting information required for acommunication used in a network, and performing communication connectionaccording to the network setting; and means for determining whether ornot communication connection by the means for performing communicationconnection has been successfully established, and selecting acommunication profile optimal for a current network environment from theplurality of communication profiles when the connection has not beensuccessfully established, wherein the means for performing communicationconnection establishes communication connection using the selectedcommunication profile.
 2. The electronic device according to claim 1,further comprising: means for detecting a change in a networkenvironment; means for, when the means for detecting the change in thenetwork environment detects a change in a network environment, acquiringsetting information required for a communication used in the detectednetwork environment and creating a communication profile based on theinformation; and means for managing communication profiles created bythe means for creating the communication profile, wherein the means forperforming communication connection performs network setting using acommunication profile managed by the means for managing communicationprofiles and establishes communication connection according to thesetting, and means for diagnosing a communication profile determineswhether or not communication connection by the means for performingcommunication connection has been successfully established, and selectsa communication profile optimal for a current network environmentdetected by the means for detecting the change in the networkenvironment from the communication profiles managed by the means formanaging communication profiles when the connection has not beensuccessfully established.
 3. The electronic device according to claim 1,further comprising a graphic user interface which designates whetherselection of a communication profile used by the means for performingcommunication connection is performed manually or automatically.
 4. Theelectronic device according to claim 1, wherein the means for diagnosingthe communication profile further comprises means for displaying a listof optimal communication profiles in an output manner and causing a userto select a communication profile from the list.
 5. The electronicdevice according to claim 2, wherein the means for diagnosing thecommunication profile further comprises means for receiving anotification indicating that a normal communication cannot be securedfrom the means for performing communication connection; and means forcomparing a current network environment detected by the means fordetecting the change in the network environment and a networkenvironment according to a currently-selected communication profile on areception of the notification, and selecting an optimal communicationprofile used by the means for performing communication connection fromthe difference therebetween.
 6. The electronic device according to claim2, wherein the means for diagnosing the communication profile furthercomprises a graphic user interface which compares a current networkenvironment detected by the means for detecting the change in thenetwork environment and a network environment according to acurrently-selected communication profile, and presents the differencetherebetween to a user.
 7. The electronic device according to claim 2,wherein the means for diagnosing the communication profile furthercomprises changeover control means for enabling a wireless device whenthe means for detecting the change in the network environment detects astatus where a LAN cable is disconnected, and disabling the wirelessdevice when the means for detecting the change in the networkenvironment detects a status where the LAN cable is connected.
 8. Theelectronic device according to claim 2, further comprising means forperforming edition of a communication profile including addition,deletion, and modification of a communication profile managed by themeans for managing communication profiles.
 9. The electronic deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the means for detecting the change in thenetwork environment comprises means for notifying the means fordiagnosing the communication profile of a status of a change in thenetwork setting when a LAN cable is disconnected, or when the LAN cableis connected, or when a wireless network is disconnected, or when thewireless network is detected, and the means for diagnosing thecommunication profile further comprises means for changing acommunication profile used by the means for performing communicationconnection when the means for detecting the change in the networkenvironment detects a status where a LAN cable is disconnected ordetects a status where the LAN cable is connected, alternatively detectsa status where a wireless network is disconnected or detects thewireless network.
 10. The electronic device according to claim 2,wherein the means for creating a communication profile further comprisesmeans for acquiring at least one information of information on a statusand setting of a communication device, information on settingaccompanying the communication device, information on system settingrelating to the communication device as setting information required fora communication, and creating a communication profile based on theacquired information.
 11. The electronic device according to claim 2,wherein the means for managing communication profiles further comprisesmeans for denoting a name or unique icon designated by a user to acommunication profile to be managed, and storing and managing the same.12. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the means forcreating a communication profile acquires at least any item ofinformation on a proxy server or start homepage which relates to theInternet, a DHCP, an IP address, a subnet mask, a default gateway, a DNSserver, or a WINS server which relates to TCP/IP as setting informationrequired for a communication, and creating a communication profile basedon the acquired information.
 13. A communication environment settingmethod of an electronic device having a communication function with anetwork connection comprising: setting predetermined information using apredetermined communication profile from a plurality of communicationprofiles created based on setting information required for acommunication used in a network, and performing communication connectionaccording to the network setting; and determining whether or notcommunication connection by the performing communication connection hasbeen successfully established, selecting a communication profile optimalfor a current network environment from the plurality of communicationprofiles when the connection has not been successfully established, andchanging over a communication profile used in the communicationconnection to the selected communication profile.
 14. A communicationenvironment setting method comprising: detecting a change in a networkenvironment to be used; acquiring setting information required for acommunication used in the detected network environment and creating acommunication profile based on the information, when a change in anetwork environment is detected; and managing the communication profile,wherein the detecting the change in the network environment performsnetwork setting using the communication profile and establishescommunication connection according to the setting, and the acquiringsetting information determines whether or not communication connectionhas been successfully established, and selects a communication profileoptimal for a detected current network environment from thecommunication profile when the connection has not been successfullyestablished.
 15. The communication environment setting method accordingto claim 14, wherein the detecting the change in the network environmentcomprises notifying of a status of a change in the network setting whena LAN cable is disconnected, or when the LAN cable is connected, or whena wireless network is disconnected, or when the wireless network isdetected, and the diagnosing the communication profile further compriseschanging a communication profile used by the performing communicationconnection when the detecting the change in the network environmentdetects a status where a LAN cable is disconnected or detects a statuswhere the LAN cable is connected, alternatively detects a status where awireless network is disconnected or detects the wireless network. 16.The communication environment setting method according to claim 14,wherein the diagnosing the communication profile compares the detectedcurrent network environment setting and the network environment settingaccording to the communication profile which is currently selected, andselects a communication profile optimal for the detected current networkenvironment from a difference therebetween, when a normal communicationcannot be secured.
 17. A computer-readable program causing a computer toexecute network setting for performing communication, the programcomprising: program code for setting predetermined information using apredetermined communication profile from a plurality of communicationprofiles created based on setting information required for acommunication used in a network, and performing communication connectionaccording to the network setting; and program code for determiningwhether or not communication connection by the performing communicationconnection has been successfully established, selecting a communicationprofile optimal for a current network environment from the plurality ofcommunication profiles as a communication profile used in the networksetting when the connection has not been successfully established. 18.The program according to claim 17, further comprising: program code fordetecting a change in a network environment to be used; program code foracquiring setting information required for a communication used in thedetected network environment and creating a communication profile basedon the information, when a change in a network environment is detected;and program code for managing the communication profile as a selectablecommunication profile according to the determination of communicationconnection.
 19. The program according to claim 17, further comprising:the program code for detecting the change in the network environmentcomprises program code for notifying of a status of a change in thenetwork setting when a LAN cable is disconnected, or when the LAN cableis connected, or when a wireless network is disconnected, or when thewireless network is detected, and the program code for diagnosing thecommunication profile further comprises program code for changing acommunication profile used by the performing communication connectionwhen the detecting the change in the network environment detects astatus where a LAN cable is disconnected or detects a status where theLAN cable is connected, alternatively detects a status where a wirelessnetwork is disconnected or detects the wireless network.
 20. The programaccording to claim 18, wherein the program code for diagnosing thecommunication profile receives notification that a normal communicationcannot be secured, compares the detected current network environmentsetting and the network environment setting according to thecommunication profile which is currently selected, and selects acommunication profile used in the network setting from a differencetherebetween, when a normal communication cannot be secured.